City Hall: No settlement in anti-camping lawsuit; trial next year?

Portland's controversial anti-camping law may be headed to a jury trial, after all.

The Portland City Council met in private for 40 minutes Wednesday to receive an update from attorneys defending the nearly 2-year-old federal lawsuit. After the executive session, City Attorney Linda Meng said the city will keep litigating with a possible trial next year.

"It's often the best solution to settle a case but some cases just can't be settled," she said.

The Oregon Law Center filed suit in December 2008, challenging Portland's anti-camping ordinances and tent restrictions. The suit claims that the law violates federal liberties and amounts to cruel and unusual punishment because it targets Portland's homeless population.